Day 1: Seen Around Town: B.U. Campus

Out 'n about at B.U. -- photo montage.

Day 1: Welcome to Beantown

Geometric Blob behind Marsh Chapel.

Thursday, March 19, 9:30 AM: I missed my 9 AM Fung Wah bus to Boston. It seems bus signal delays and overall traffic takes longer than I gauged, so I ended up chilling at Century Cafe & Bakery in C-town watching the aunties and uncles staring their day off with a cup of coffee and all manner of bao (buns). I ordered a small cup of tea with milk ($.80), coconut bun ($.70) and ham and egg bun ($.80). No tax, sweet. The cafe was bustling with folks eating, jostling, reading newspapers and otherwise gabbing over hot drinks and warm buns.

I scanned the tables for a seat but didn't see any open. One of the cashiers head-nodded to me to sit with some older folks. One of them was friendly to me and helped me get myself settled down, despite my gargantuan bags. he cordially tried to move out of my frame when he saw me taking pics. (I am now known as 'that friend who snaps shots of anything and everything'). I wasn't able to get too many shots since I didn't want to attract attention to myself. More pics of the cafe here.

The hanging lantern decor caught my eye - rows and rows of 'em. The gentleman one seat down from me gabbed on and on quite animatedly to his compadres, who would interject here and there. He was easily in his 60s but his youthful ardor shaved away years. He wore a spruce green blazer over an azure blue vest. When his companions were about to leave, he loudly wished them: 'Sun Tuy Geen Hong!' (Wishing you good health).

On the street, all manner of urban yuppies, metros in black pointed wingtip shoes, brown highlights and black wool coats rushed past me. As I was scanning for bakeries, I followed (not on purpose) a short, square man in an olive blazer and sky blue hoodie. He returned later carrying a bag of Jasmine rice and a big blue recyclables bag. Hey, a man's gotta buy his bread and butter.

I passed scrawls of graffiti on the highway but was too rapt in writing to think of taking pics. By that time, it was too late.

On my way to C-town, I got stuck in the subway. I rushed into the already packed compartment of a downtown E train and the bungee cord on my backpack was smushed between the doors. For a second I was immobile..until I figured out the cause.

Picnic tables behind College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).

I never really noticed these picnic tables while I was a student at Boston University. It's funny how much you rediscover with new eyes when you're no longer rushing about from one building to the next to get to class on time.

Sky blue at BU Beach (not an actual beach).

This photo is kind of dark. I wish I knew what type of clouds these were but they had a soothing, calming effect on me. Shot at 6:40 PM EST.

More greenery outside CAS.

Vine and trellis overgrowth.

I have a thing for woodsy, ivy structures. These extra-long branches leech onto brick buildings like outstretched arms.


Locations:
Century Cafe & Pastry (btn Grand and Hester)
123 Bowery
New York, NY
212.966.3368
http://centurycafe.com

Boston Univerity Marsh Chapel/BU Beach
Bay State Rd. along the Charles River
Boston, MA 02215

Don't Drink the Water

I was sitting at my dining room table for lunch when I noticed this plastic bottle of Deer Park spring water. Normally, it wouldn't catch my attention. After all, it's just a bottle of water. What's so special about that?

But then I read this article from the Christian Science Monitor about the debate over whether access to clean water should be a human right. While Americans may not readily obsess over drinking water with so many choices at our disposal (it's a matter of tap, filtered, spring, infused, etc.) developing nations around the world don't have this privilege. Sure, we may gripe about the $4 bottle of water we paid for in the airport, but we generally don't have a dearth of drinking water.




I thought it was highly ironic that Deer Park claims to have reduced the size of their labels to "save almost 10 million lbs. of paper per year in the U.S." But while the trees may or may not be saved (arguable), the fact is that Deer Park and all the other spring water companies are still using plastic. Plastic generates harmful gases from disintegration. Plus, don't forget about the high energy cost associated with plastic bottle production and shipment. While plastic bottles can be recycled, some public and restaurant facilities still don't have separate plastic/glass trash receptacles. I've found myself more than once taking home a plastic bottle just to toss it in my own recyclables bin.

Why not switch to stainless steel aluminum bottles instead? Klean Kanteen's are BPA- and toxin-free, recyclable, sanitary and easy to clean. They also come in a variety of colors and sizes, from 12-oz. (kid-friendly) to 40-oz. (great for long day trips or camping treks).

TriniTEA Electric Maker

Photo by justindz.

For tea drinkers tight on schedule, here's a new product for you: TriniTEA Electric Maker is a three-stage loose leaf tea steeping system that bypasses the fuss and mess of teapots, kettles and over-steeped pots of tea. Now you don't have to worry about your tea catching cold or over-brewing your tea. In fact, this appliance serves three functions: "heats water, steeps leaves, and keeps tea warm so you may enjoy it all day long."

Temperature and timer controls allow you to adjust teas' strength to your preference. The 32-oz. Electric Maker costs $99 and produces four cups of tea. So pull up a chair, kick back and let TriniTEA works its magic. The only thing I'm wary about is its "Made in China" label, but I guess one can't be too picky nowadays.

Scrabble Rabble

Photo by Datamancer.

It's a wooden keyboard made of Scrabble! Now my favorite childhood word game has taken on a recycled function.

Photo by amsyweb.

Wooden computers aren't new to the market. According to Mac-a-doodle, the Apple I was created in 1976 by Steve Wozniak of Palo Alto, Calif. The limited edition computer only released 200 copies but wasn't the most streamlined design. The clunky contraption required a display, power supply, keyboard and case. It is estimated that only 30 to 50 editions still exist, cashing up to $50,000 at auctions. Ka-CHING!

Treehugger.com has a slideshow of 15 awesome wooden computers, ranging from the aesthetically pleasing (Suissa arthouse wood-and-glass models) to the architecturally sound (Fujitsu FMV-BIBLO NX95y/D notebook -- uhhh, whoever named this should be fired). One from the Ukraine is even encrusted with jewels! Museum-worthy.

Wooden computers come in both Mac and PC versions and are made using a range of materials, including cedar, redwood and even bamboo.

I highly advise against eating the computer, but in case you're hungry for Scrabble morsels, cut yourself a slice of Pink Cake Box Scrabble cake. Is there any better way to spell L-O-V-E?

Speaking of Scrabble, the San Francisco-based band Scrabbel sings some whimsical indie-pop tunes. "Save the Green Planet" has become my anthem song.


Location:
Pink Cake Box
18 E Main St Suite 101
Denville, NJ 07834
973.998.4445
www.pinkcakebox.com

24/7 Green Fiend

'My White T is Green'

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Thanks for the shirt, Chloe.

Printed inside the shirt

Are you wearing organic? Awake Couture sells clothing made from 100% organic cotton. No chemicals or pesticides were involved in the creation of these shirts, so you can buy them with confidence and a safe conscience. Not to mention they're also super plush and comfy. You'll forget you're even wearing a shirt! (But please do.) You can get crafty and design your own Ts at customink.com.

For outdoorsy folks, Patagonia's got a line called "W's", short for "Women's 1% for the Planet." For each shirt sold, five dollars goes to 1% for the Planet, a company motivating businesses to give back to the environment.

Ban T-shirts rallies against the exploitation of workers and is committed to ensuring sweatshop-free practices. The company uses independently certified organic cotton for all their T-shirts. Their designs get political and are awash with attitude -- like this pro-vegetarian "Live Fat Die Young" shirt.


Location:
AWAKE NEW YORK
1407 Broadway, Suite 2206
New York, NY 10018
212.382.3744

Grapevine Fires

Not a huge Death Cab fan (though I'm partial to the somber strains of "Transatlanticism"), but check out this new video, inspired by lead singer Ben Gibbard's experience with the California wildfires of 2007 (remember San Diego?).

Fire can be a powerful, awe-inspiring force, but it can also prove to be deadly.

The illustrations are especially intriguing.


Bought some wine and some paper cups,
Near your daughter's school and we picked her up.
Drove to the cemetery on a hill, on a hill.

Watched the bullets paint the sky grey.
She laughed and danced through the field of graves.
There I knew we'd be alright.

Everything will be alright...
Will be alright...
Will be alright...
Will be alright.